Posted by The Bauchi Emirate Council’s decision to remove Senator Shehu Buba Umar (APC, Bauchi South)’s customary title of “Mujaddadin Bauchi” has left him sad.
He asserted that before the action was taken, he was not granted a fair hearing.
The senator’s traditional title was withdrawn by the Bauchi Emirate Council on Wednesday for ‘disrespecting’ the state governor, Bala Mohammed, according to the Daily Post.
The Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, governor Mohammed was charged by Buba last week at a news conference of misappropriating supplies given by the federal government led by the African People’s Party (APC) for palliative purposes.
The governor had criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies, to which the senator was responding.
The senator asserted that rather than being given to the populace, the state government was purportedly selling necessities like rice, corn, and fertilizer, which were intended to ease the state’s economic suffering.
However, it was revealed in a letter dated August 14, 2024, and signed by Nasiru Musa on behalf of the Emirate Council secretary, that the title revocation came after a council meeting during which it was stated that Senator Umar may have engaged in inappropriate behavior.
Buba wrote a letter to the Emir of Bauchi expressing his dismay at the decision made by the Bauchi Emirate Council to abolish his chieftaincy title.
He asked the council to avoid getting sucked into political disputes that benefit politicians at the expense of the general public.
The senator made it clear that his comments to Governor Mohammed were intended as a defense of President Bola Tinubu rather than as an attack.
He claimed that the governor’s alleged “disparaging comments” about the president had prompted him to take action because he thought the remarks were an intentional attempt to harm the president’s standing, stir up disturbance in the community, and jeopardize national security.
Senator Umar attacked the governor’s words, calling them “confrontational, accusatory, abusive, and defamatory,” and asserting that they were intended to incite unrest and jeopardize national security.
“I was deeply shocked to receive a letter dated August 14, 2024, informing me of the Bauchi Emirate Council’s decision to withdraw my traditional title of Mujaddadin Bauchi,” Umar stated in the statement obtained by schoolhubby. I am aware that during a political event, there were claims that I insulted Governor Bala Mohammed, which led to this decision.
However, I solely addressed the governor’s derogatory remarks about President Tinubu at a recent APC campaign rally. These remarks, in my opinion, were meant to make the president vulnerable to mockery and to stir up unrest.
“The governor falsely accused President Tinubu of “lying to us,” “deceit,” “creating agony,” and “fostering rage and hunger” in a number of widely shared media clips. The governor’s rhetoric was aggressive, accusatory, abusive, and defamatory.
“These accusations made against President Tinubu of the APC by PDP member Governor Bala are politically driven, unfounded, and unsubstantiated. In reply, I drew attention to the fact that, despite Governor Bala’s receipt of over N144 billion from the Federation Account in 2023 and over N47 billion thus far this year, the people of Bauchi remain impoverished and face starvation.
“I emphasized that, in contrast to Governor Bala, President Tinubu is dedicated to safeguarding the country, stabilizing the economy, and encouraging peaceful coexistence without dividing the country. I defended the president, who has more authority than the governor, in my speech.
“I am sorry that I was not given a fair hearing before the Bauchi Emirate Council reached this decision. But I humble myself before Almighty Allah and pray that eventually He would send a leader to Bauchi State who will deal with these matters.
“I further suggest that the Bauchi Emirate Council stay out of political conflicts that prioritize the interests of a select few over the well-being of the populace. I offer prayers for the Emir of Bauchi’s long life, good health, and ability to continue leading the Emirate with wisdom.